He had scarcely been married three months, and his bride
was Miss Helena Tuffnell, the daughter of William Tuffnell,
the great traveler, one of the many victims of geographical
science and of the passion for discovery. Miss Helena did
not belong to a noble family, but she was Scotch, and that
was better than all nobility in the eyes of Lord Glenarvan;
and she was, moreover, a charming, high-souled, religious young woman.

Lord Glenarvan did not forget that his wife was the daughter of a
great traveler, and he thought it likely that she would inherit
her father's predilections. He had the DUNCAN built expressly that
he might take his bride to the most beautiful lands in the world,
and complete their honeymoon by sailing up the Mediterranean,
and through the clustering islands of the Archipelago.

However, Lord Glenarvan had gone now to London. The lives of the
shipwrecked men were at stake, and Lady Helena was too much concerned
herself about them to grudge her husband's temporary absence.
A telegram next day gave hope of his speedy return, but in the evening
a letter apprised her of the difficulties his proposition had met with,
and the morning after brought another, in which he openly expressed
his dissatisfaction with the Admiralty.

Lady Helena began to get anxious as the day wore on.
In the evening, when she was sitting alone in her room, Mr. Halbert,
the house steward, came in and asked if she would see a young
girl and boy that wanted to speak to Lord Glenarvan.

"Some of the country people?" asked Lady Helena.

"No, madame," replied the steward, "I do not know them at all.
They came by rail to Balloch, and walked the rest of the way to Luss."

"Tell them to come up, Halbert."

In a few minutes a girl and boy were shown in. They were evidently
brother and sister, for the resemblance was unmistakable.
The girl was about sixteen years of age; her tired pretty face,
and sorrowful eyes, and resigned but courageous look, as well
as her neat though poor attire, made a favorable impression.
The boy she held by the hand was about twelve, but his face expressed
such determination, that he appeared quite his sister's protector.

The girl seemed too shy to utter a word at first, but Lady Helena quickly
relieved her embarrassment by saying, with an encouraging smile:
"You wish to speak to me, I think?"

"No," replied the boy, in a decided tone; "not to you,
but to Lord Glenarvan."

V. IV Verne

"Excuse him, ma'am," said the girl, with a look at her brother.

"Lord Glenarvan is not at the castle just now," returned Lady Helena;
"but I am his wife, and if I can do anything for you--"

"You are Lady Glenarvan?" interrupted the girl.

"I am."

"The wife of Lord Glenarvan, of Malcolm Castle, that put an announcement
in the TIMES about the shipwreck of the BRITANNIA?"

"My poor child, there is but a faint hope; but with the help
of almighty Heaven it is just possible you may one day see
your father once more."

The girl burst into tears, and Robert seized Lady Glenarvan's
hand and covered it with kisses.

As soon as they grew calmer they asked a complete string of questions,
and Lady Helena recounted the whole story of the document,
telling them that their father had been wrecked on the coast
of Patagonia, and that he and two sailors, the sole survivors,
appeared to have reached the shore, and had written an appeal
for help in three languages and committed it to the care
of the waves.